Nightmare's Dream

Luna lifted her head, ears flicking back, nostrils flaring, as she stared at Queen Chrysalis. Inside her, Nightmare Moon stomped and bucked, desperate to escape. Somepony has spoken my name. Free me. Let me go.

Luna snorted, keeping the mare inside her trapped, using every ounce of magic she had left.

“Nightmare Moon is secure inside me,” she said. “There is no way of releasing her. You would waste your time. So leave, before I have to force you off my moon.”

“Liar.” The deep male voice spoke behind Luna. She spun and gasped.

“Discord,” she hissed his name and braced herself, bunching her shoulders, trying to cover her shock. He shouldn't be alive. He should be a cement statue in Canterlot, ever imprisoned by magic. There was no way he was here, on her moon, as healthy as a horse, and looking way too pleased about the situation.

“I know, I know, little Princess,” he said, sauntering toward her. “How? Why? Many questions in that funny pony brain. Did you really think the Elements of Harmony would trap me forever? That there was no power greater? You ponies are so naive.”

Luna shook her head, trying to rid her growing headache. “Leave, Discord. And take that ugly thing with you.”

She nodded at Chrysalis. The black pony rolled her eyes and trotted beside Discord, looking down her nose at Luna.

“Since you asked so nicely, of course we'll leave,” Chrysalis smiled sweetly, then burst into laughter.

Nightmare Moon thrashed inside Luna, sensing the Princess's weakness, the distraction taking away from her prison walls. Luna clenched her teeth, kept the magic swirling around Nightmare. She needed to keep her at bay for just a few moments longer and Nightmare would sink back into the depths of Luna, until the next full moon.

“What my dear Queen is trying to say,” Discord flicked his dragon tail back and forth. “Is that we will leave, but not without Nightmare Moon. If you give her up willingly, then we will leave in peace.”

“We are one in the same, Discord,” Luna breathed, thick beads of sweat rolling down her neck. “You want her, you get me.”

Chrysalis grinned, showing pointed fangs. “Wrong.”

Lightning cracked around them and suddenly Discord stood behind Luna, paw and talon around her body, holding her wings in place. Luna reared then bucked trying to shake her old foe off her. Catching Discord by surprise, he gave a cry and stumbled back.

Luna whipped around and lunged. Discord rolled away as her horn grazed his side. She pivoted and leaped, aiming for his chest. His tail swiped the air, smacking her side and sending her tumbling toward Chrysalis.

The Changling lowered her head aiming her horn at Luna. Luna scrambled, kicking her hooves, slowing herself, but to no avail. Chrysalis' horn pierced her shoulder, sent liquid pain through her body. Luna gasped and kicked again, pulling herself away from Chrysalis. She stood, legs visibly shaking, sweat soaking every inch of her coat. She held her left leg up from the ground, warm blood seeping from the hole, trickling down and dripping onto the moon's surface.

“We can still do this the easy way, Your Highness,” Chrysalis sneered. “Hold still, it will only take a minute.”

A growl started in Luna's throat and she glared at the Changling. “Rot in Tartarus you disgusting, mangy bitch.”

Chryslis' ears flicked back. “If that's the way you want it...”

She nodded at Discord. He roared and ran toward Luna. Wincing, she dodged him, stumbling on her hurt leg. If only she could use her magic, damn it. But it was keeping Nightmare Moon inside her.

Discord stretched out his mismatched wings and soared through the air. Luna braced and met him, their bodies slamming into one another. The breath knocked out of her, they ended up in a heap. She kicked and caught his stomach, then kicked again and again, hooves hitting every time. Discord scampered up and swiped with his lion paw. Luna reared trying to knock his paw away, but his claws caught her chest, tearing three strips into her skin.

She screamed as her flesh ripped away, soaking her chest in thick, sticky blood. She retreated a few steps, breathing hard through the pain. Without her magic it was useless. They would kill her, or succeed in whatever they were attempting.

She risked some magic, lowered her inner defenses, and stopped her wounds from bleeding. They still gaped open, raw and burning, but she wouldn't lose any more blood. Nightmare sensed the weakened magic and surged forward, trying to escape. But Luna held her down.

Discord rubbed his stomach, golden fur flattened, a bruise no doubt forming on his skin. He disappeared in a crack of blue lightning. Luna concentrated, allowed even more magic through, sensing where Discord would appear.

Beside her.

To her left.

Right now.

She reared and dove as Discord crackled into form. Her horn stuck deep into his gut. She bounced off his pelvic bone and sunk her horn deeper into his body. His blood gushed down her horn, into her mane, soaking it in onyx liquid. The magic in his blood snapped and fizzed where it touched her body.

He let out a low moan and stumbled back, popping himself from her horn, paw and talons covering the growing circle of black near his stomach. His eyes lit up, iris' glowing crimson. He let out a great roar that shook the ground and lunged.

Luna jumped sideways but stumbled on her hurt leg, crashing to the ground. Discord landed on all fours above her, saliva dripping from his mouth. He snapped his powerful jaw down on her back leg, his long fang sinking into her flank. Masking the pain with a little more magic, Luna curled and clamped down on his ear, yanking toward her. Discord yelped and released her leg. Blood and saliva dribbled from his mouth over her body, thickening on her wings. His talons snapped to her neck, claws digging into her muscles. Her grip slipped from his ear as he pushed her head to the moon's surface.

Panic washed over her. She was done. Trapped beneath this monster. The only way out was to release Nightmare Moon, let the mare take over her body. At this thought Nightmare gave an excited whinny inside her.

Luna unfolded her blood dappled wings and flapped, her feathers hitting Discord's face. She kicked her back legs with all her strength, willing herself to move just a couple inches. Discord roared and snapped at her wings.

Pain froze Luna as her wing snapped in two, the bone cracking, the tip falling limp and useless. Breath gone, she couldn't move, couldn't keep fighting.

Discord laughed, a deep throaty chuckle and pushed her further into the ground. Talons working their way into her neck, and lion paw holding her flank. She craned her neck, watched him coil back, about to strike.

“Stop,” Chrysalis' voice barely registered in Luna's ears. The Changling's hooves appeared in front of her. “Easy Discord. We still need her.”

Chrysalis bent to meet Luna's eyes. Luna blinked, clearing her vision, trying to stop the moon from wobbling. Using the last bit of magic she could spare, Luna flicked her head and small beam of light shot from her horn. It slashed a deep line into Chrysalis' cheek. The Changling shrieked and recoiled, emerald blood seeping from the wound.

She shook her head and glared at Luna. Luna stared back. Exhausted, in pain, and covered in three different bloods, she was beat. They had her. She set her jaw. Time to release Nightmare Moon. She had no choice.

Chrysalis stepped to her once more and lowered her head, her horn touching Luna's. The Changling closed her eyes and chanted under her breath.

Luna paused. What was this mare doing? Casting a spell on her? Killing her with magic? It would be easier to just let Discord take a chunk out of her.

Chrysalis stopped chanting and opened her eyes. They were glazed over, a milky white film covered the entire socket. Luna laid there for a second, entranced by this Changling. Even Nightmare Moon settled a bit, intrigued as well.

Then everything went cold.

The feeling spread over Luna like ice water. Creeping through her veins, seeping into her muscles, freezing every organ. Then, like somepony had taken a pair of scissors, the thread between her and Nightmare moon severed. Luna coughed and gagged as Chrysalis' magic pulled Nightmare from her body. Pain like tiny razors started at her tail and followed Nightmare out. Sharp tingles covered her skin, itching, burning, cutting deep inside her. Her visioned blackened as she writhed in pain.

I'm free.

She heard one last thought from Nightmare Moon before plunging into what felt like a warm pool. Discord's weight lifted off her and she heard gasps and deep victorious laughter. Luna opened her eyes, squinting to rid the sudden headache.

“It worked, my Queen.” Discord laughed again. “It really worked.”

Luna lifted her head and panic replaced every other feeling in her body. Standing with a bloodied Discord, and a triumphant looking Chrysalis was Nightmare Moon. Silver hoof armor gleamed in the moonlight. The spiked chest plate matching, wrapping around her neck and protecting with large, thick silver scales. Her helmet covered most of her face, allowing her jaw and her glowing aqua slitted eyes free. Her horn shone black and sharp, a small silver line of armor twisting in amongst the smooth marble. She stretched her wings, flapping them slowly, feathers started at the base then moved into dragon scales, each tip housing a pointed onyx talon. Her tail draped down to the ground, white twinkles of stars swirled amongst the purple steel hair.

“Who is the one that freed me?” Nightmare's voice echoed through the empty air. Chrysalis stepped forward.

“I did,” she said. “You are allied with us. Should you waver, you will be sent back to the dark pit you loath so much.”

“I ally with whomever I wish, pathetic mortal,” Nightmare snapped.

Chrysalis stomped her hoof. “As I released you, I showed you a vision of my goal. You seemed pleased. Will you not help us achieve it?”

Nightmare paused, considering Chrysalis. “You should know my thoughts by now.”

Nightmare glanced down at Luna. “Good bye, Princess. The moon shall take good care of you as you die.”

She turned, horn glowing, black liquid magic spreading across her body. It shimmered onto Chrysalis, then jumped to Discord. He looked back at Luna and grinned.

“Sweet dreams, Princess,” he sneered. “Pray for your little ponies. Maybe somepony will hear you and come to your aid.”

The trio vanished, Nightmare taking them to Equestria no doubt. Luna lay in a crater, broken, bleeding, and empty. There was a hole inside here where Nightmare Moon used to live. A vacant space waiting to be filled. She coughed up bile and blood, spitting them onto the moon's grey surface. How could this happen? What could they be doing? She didn't know Nightmare could ever be detached from her, let alone made into her true form. She needed to get to Canterlot, warn her sister.

But how?

All her magic had been stolen away by Nightmare. She closed her eyes, tears welling up. She looked deep inside for any kind of magic. One tiny spark rested, a last reserve. Luna tugged at it, urged it into her horn, and thought of her sister's palace. The air around her sucked at her skin like a vacuum. She closed her eyes, heard the hollow sound of nothingness. Then she landed hard on a carpeted surface, gasps erupting around her. She didn't have a chance to open her eyes before she fainted, slipping into darkness.